Japanese Sergeant Found Hiding In the Jungles Of Guam 28 Years After The End Of WWII

By brandon, Jan 24, 2017

This story may sound like it’s straight out of an episode of the Twilight Zone, but according to reports, it’s completely genuine. It started back in 1898 when the United States took possession of the 200 square mile island of Guam, located in the Western Pacific after the Spanish-American War. They remained in control of the island until 1941 when Japan attacked and captured it which started an occupation that would last almost three years. However, in 1944, the U.S. military attacked and required control and in doing so forced the Japanese soldiers to retreat back to Japan.

It was at this time that a Japanese sergeant, Shoichi Yokoi, was mistakingly left behind. Rather than surrendering to the American’s, Yokoi fled to the deep jungle. Nearly 28 years later, a local farmer was working on his crops when suddenly he came across Japanese Sargeant, Shoichi Yokoi, hiding in the jungles of Guam on January 23, 1972. Yokoi was unaware that WWII had come to an end and therefore remained hidden, waiting for the return of the Japanese to come and save him. How he managed to survive for almost three decades in the harsh jungle is a miracle in itself. Apparently, he carved survival tools which played a major part in keeping him alive for so long in such a harsh environment. The uniform he wore, and the tools he used, are currently on display at the Guam Museum of Agana. Shortly after he was found, he was discharged and sent home to Japan where he was greeted with a hero’s welcome. He got married and surprisingly, returned to Guam for his Honeymoon.